While the goalkeepers took centre-stage, Town's 40-goal striker Jordan Rhodes endured a quiet game, but he is still expected to be the subject of bids from Premier League clubs this summer.

However, Grayson is determined to keep his star man and added: "Hopefully we can match his ambition. We are not looking to sell him,"

Sheffield United have now lost all four of the play-off finals they have contested - and still not managed to find the net in any of them.

With three games to go this season they were second but, having lost top scorer Ched Evans to a jail term for rape, they were pipped to automatic promotion by rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

The outcome was particularly cruel on Simonsen, who had kept the Blades in the final with some fine stops as Town created the best of the game’s few chances, and then saved two of their first three spot-kicks.

Shortly after Danny Ward had crashed a shot against the crossbar, Simonsen dived to save Peter Clarke’s header and Michael Doyle cleared Tommy Miller’s rebound off the line.